Saturday, 22 August 2015

ON THE RADAR: Fun in the Son heads to Haiti, returns to local scene in 2016

REACHING OUT: When the months of June and July came and went this year, and we noticed that Fun in the Son gospel festival was wholly missing from the entertainment scene, we knew we had to reach out to Glory Music to find out why. As head honcho Tommy Cowan (above, far right) tells TALLAWAH, the festival has done so incredibly well since its inception that the decision was taken to expand to Haiti, and that’s where the praise party will be held this year, come November.
“We figured that there’s a genuine need in Haiti when you think of the harsh conditions that the people are faced with over there,” Cowan explains. “So it’s really an outreach programme to help the people of Haiti. It’s part of our bigger mission.” At the same time, it’s a continuation of work Glory Music started in Haiti when that devastating earthquake ravaged the mountainous country a few years ago. “That was a major turning point in our ministry,” Cowan recalls. “The people needed to hear the gospel and still need to hear the gospel after what they’ve been through.”
Fun in the Son Jamaica, backed annually by title sponsors Jamaica Broilers, returns to the entertainment calendar next July, but in the meantime, the focus is on making an essential contribution to our brothers and sisters elsewhere in the region. “I wouldn’t say we are disappointed that Fun in the Son is not being staged in Jamaica this year. We just work with the plan. We strategize and make decisions accordingly.” Carlene Davis, Evangelist Andrew Palau, and a slew of top Haitian acts are among those who will deliver performances at Fun in the Son (the Haitian Edition) on Nov. 14. ** SHAPING UP:As far as well-anticipated annual events go, another glaring absentee some may have noticed is the blockbuster art-and-craft showcase the Liguanea Art Festival, which TALLAWAH has been reliably informed won’t be held this year. Without going into much detail, a spokesperson for the event told us last week that due to unforeseen circumstances the festival had to be cancelled but should return bigger and better in 2016. Last June, the festival received its largest turnout when it took over the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA), pulling together a thrilling mix of visual artists and artisans, jewelry designers and ceramists to showcase their latest wares and interact with members of the public. ** TUNING IN: Having secured the exclusive broadcast rights for Jamaica, CVM-TV is set to become the sole local broadcaster of the hit game show Family Feud, which they will begin airing shortly. Hosted by Emmy winner and bestselling author Steve Harvey, the show’s episodes feature two families competing for cars and cash, while trying to come up with answers to a series of random questions. “CVM’s mandate is to bring fresh and inspiring content to our Jamaican audience,” says CEO of CVM, Shamena Khan. “We are proud to partner with Pavilion Entertainment to bring Family Feud to Jamaican television.”